We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Keyboard

A standard mechanical keyboard switch is about 2cm tall and 1.5cm wide and deep. NovelKeys’ “Big Series” switches are four times that size. Why? If I had to guess, I’d say it was for the clicks.

Currently available for preorder at $33 apiece and expected to ship out in time for Christmas, the Big Keys series takes three popular Kailh switch types – clicky blue, linear yellow and tactile orange – and blows them up to ludicrous size. When I first heard tell of them, I figured they’d be kind of big. I was not prepared for how big they actually are.

Aside from the increased dimensions, these are perfectly normal Kailh switches, featuring the same inner working as their smaller cousins. These aren’t just giant replicas. These are fully-functional keyboard switches, just waiting for a giant keyboard to occupy.

Each switch comes in its own box, complete with a colour-coded keycap. The caps are blank, but we’re all grown-ups and know how to use paint.

While they are completely functional, a giant-size keyboard outfitted with a full set would probably be unbearably loud. Take what they sound like individually:

Now imagine a whole bunch of them banging against a metal top plate at once. Beautiful, yet annoying as hell.

The Big Series switches are ridiculous, built more for the novelty than anything else. That said, the mechanical keyboard community embraces some pretty ridiculous things, so I expect someone will have hand-wired their own functional keyboard with a full set of these by next autumn at the latest. It will be magnificent.